But so far humanity has not been able to eradicate any other viruses through vaccination besides smallpox. The success of such an effort depends on multiple factors, including the effectiveness of the vaccine and other health measures such as — in the case of coronavirus — social distancing and masking.

Are some COVID-19 variants more dangerous?

Some variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on healthcare resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths.

Can I still have sex during the coronavirus pandemic?

If both of you are healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing and have had no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19, touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe.

Can you still spread COVID-19 if you have the vaccine?

Vaccinated People Can Transmit the Coronavirus, but It's Still More Likely If You're Unvaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines continue to protect against severe illness but do not entirely block transmission. Fully vaccinated people are also less likely to contract the coronavirus than unvaccinated people.

Is a new COVID-19 surge expected?

Another surge of COVID-19 is likely to hit the United States this winter, according to experts at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation of the University of Washington, which accurately forecasted the COVID-19 waves last winter and summer.

Europe witnesses record COVID transmission of Delta variant across continent

24 related questions found

Is a new COVID-19 surge expected?

Another surge of COVID-19 is likely to hit the United States this winter, according to experts at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation of the University of Washington, which accurately forecasted the COVID-19 waves last winter and summer.

Can you still get COVID-19 after booster vaccine?

COVID-19 is still a risk. Getting a booster shot doesn't guarantee you won't be infected with the coronavirus. But it can help your immune system build protection against severe disease or hospitalization -- including from the delta variant.

How should vaccinated people prevent the spread of COVID-19?

• Wear a mask.

- To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, have
everyone in your family, even those who are vaccinated, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
- You might choose to have everyone in your family, even those who are vaccinated, wear a mask indoors in public regardless of the level of transmission in your area.
- Unvaccinated family members, including children 2 years and older, should wear a mask in all indoor public settings.

Do you still have to wear a mask if you get the COVID-19 vaccine?

• If you have a condition or taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may not be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. You should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.

How long will it take to build immunity after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot of the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

How safe is intimacy with a partner during the COVID-19 pandemic?

If both of you are healthy and feeling well, are practicing social distancing and have had no known exposure to anyone with COVID-19, touching, hugging, kissing, and sex are more likely to be safe. Similarly, sharing a bed with a partner who is healthy should not be an issue.

Be aware, though, that the CDC reports that some people may have the virus and not yet have symptoms during the early part of the incubation period (presymptomatic). Additionally, some people never develop obvious symptoms of COVID-19 (asymptomatic). In either case, it’s possible that the virus might spread through physical contact and intimacy.

Can you get COVID-19 from kissing someone?

It's well known that the coronavirus infects the body's airways and other parts of the body, but new research indicates that the virus also infects mouth cells. You don't want to kiss someone who's got COVID.

What should you look for after being intimate with someone new during the COVID-19 pandemic?

After a close, high-risk encounter like sex, you should be mindful of your personal risk of contracting and falling ill to COVID-19 as well as the risk you may pose to those in your own circle. I recommend monitoring yourself closely for any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, the loss of taste and smell). Also, consider getting a COVID-19 test five to seven days after the interaction. I would also refrain from interacting with any at-risk persons within a 14 day period after the encounter. If you cannot avoid contact with a high-risk individual, take precautions to lower your risk profile by social distancing, choosing to interact with the individual in outdoor spaces as opposed to indoor spaces, and wearing a mask.

Does the COVID-19 Delta variant cause more serious illness?

• Some data suggest the Delta variant might cause more severe illness than previous strains in unvaccinated persons. In two different studies from Canada and Scotland, patients infected with the Delta variant were more likely to be hospitalized than patients infected with Alpha or the original virus strains.

What is a COVID-19 variant of interest?

A variant with specific genetic markers that have been associated with changes to receptor binding, reduced neutralization by antibodies generated against previous infection or vaccination, reduced efficacy of treatments, potential diagnostic impact, or predicted increase in transmissibility or disease severity.

Is the COVID-19 Epsilon variant more infectious?

The Epsilon variant is gaining a higher profile as cases of COVID-19 spike among the unvaccinated, driven in part by the widely spread Delta variant.

In the lab, the Epsilon version proved to be more infectious than previous variants, and researchers have discovered three changes in its spike proteins.

How long after Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster is it effective?

The authors explain: “In this study, we estimated effectiveness starting from day 7 after the third dose, which is similar to the period used to define full vaccination after the second dose. Our choice is supported by high concentrations of antibodies in individuals 7 days after administration of the third dose.”

Will getting a COVID-19 vaccine cause me to test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test?

No. None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.​

If your body develops an immune response to vaccination, which is the goal, you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus.

Learn more about the possibility of COVID-19 illness after vaccination

Is COVID-19 vaccination still necessary, even after getting the disease and recovering?

Re-infection with COVID-19 occurs, although it is relatively rare. Also, at this point we do not know precisely how long people are naturally protected from getting COVID-19 again after clearing an infection. Follow-up periods for previously-infected individuals are not yet long enough to be able to draw conclusions on the duration of protection against infection beyond six months after infection. As a result, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended even for those who have recovered from the disease.

What public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are recommended by the CDC?

● Wash your hands often with plain soap and water. The CDC recommends washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, the CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Learn more about safely using hand sanitizer.
● Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering or non-surgical mask when around others.
● Avoid crowds and practice social distancing (stay at least 6 feet apart from others).

Does the COVID-19 vaccine prevent infection?

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing infection, serious illness, and death. Most people who get COVID-19 are unvaccinated. However, since vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection, some people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19.

How far away should I stay from people who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19?

In general, CDC recommends people who are not fully vaccinated maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet from other people who are not in their household.

How long after Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster is it effective?

The authors explain: “In this study, we estimated effectiveness starting from day 7 after the third dose, which is similar to the period used to define full vaccination after the second dose. Our choice is supported by high concentrations of antibodies in individuals 7 days after administration of the third dose.”

Do COVID-19 vaccine boosters work?

Results from Israel indicate that a booster dose greatly lowers the risk of severe illness. Boosters also prevent infection. This reduces the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. It isn't yet clear how long protection from boosters will last, but the world can't wait to find out.

How long after COVID-19 booster do side effects start?

A separate trial conducted by the Food and Drug Administration produced similar results. Side effects were generally mild to moderate, occurred within two days after vaccination, and most went away within one to two days, the agency said.